As protests continue to draw large crowds of individuals across Los Angeles County, officials are urging participants to get tested for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

“We’re still in the midst of a pandemic,” county public health director Barbara Ferrer said on Monday, June 8. “COVID-19 remains easy to transmit… Every single social interaction that happens outside your household comes with risk to both the people who interact.”

The county is advising protesters to self-quarantine for two weeks and monitor symptoms. Should symptoms start to appear, individuals are encouraged to get tested.

“Being part of a protest is really no different than having an exposure at an indoor mall or even at a restaurant or at the beach. In all of these sites,” Ferrer said.

On Tuesday, June 9, the public health department confirmed 56 new deaths and 1,225 new cases of COVID-19.

Thirty-eight people who died were over the age of 65 years old, 15 people who died were between the ages of 41 and 65 years old, and two people who died were between the ages of 18 to 40 years old.  Forty-four people had underlying health conditions including 33 people over the age of 65 years old, 10 people between the ages of 41 to 65 years old and one person between the ages of 18 and 40 years old. One death was reported by the City of Long Beach.

To date, the county has identified 65,822 positive cases and 2,707 deaths. Of those who died, 93% had underlying health conditions, while 18% were of Asian descent.

Officials also cautioned the public as restrictions begin to ease, such as the reopening of restaurants, hair salons and beaches.

Over 1.9 million Americans have been infected and 110,000 have died nationwide, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Meanwhile, 22 states continue seeing an uptick in coronavirus cases. (AJPress)